OTC names presidential finalists

The six finalists were announced Monday:

• Hal L. Higdon, vice president for administration at Mississippi Gulf Community College in Perkinston, Miss.;

• Brian King, president of Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif.,;

• Luke P. Robins, executive vice president and vice president of National Park Community College in Hot Springs, Ark.;

• Greg F. Rutherford, vice president and dean for economic and work force development, and director of the Regional Technology Center at Haywood Community College, in Clyde, N.C.;

• Robert S. Shackleford, vice president for student development at Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, N.C; and

• Peter J. Sireno, president of Darton College in Albany, Ga.

The interview schedules will be announced at a later date, according to an OTC news release. Each of the candidates will have the opportunity to meet with and hear from the community and OTC employees.

One candidate, King, is no stranger to OTC, having served as OTC’s vice president of administration and business 1999–2004.

Initially, there were 29 potential candidates for the OTC presidency, according to Jackie McKinsey, chair of the OTC Board of Trustees and the committee leading the search for Myers’ successor.

The committee expects to make a decision by the end of May; OTC founding president Norman Myers will retire June 30.